Leadership Certification

Career and technical administrators are responsible for managing a diverse group of tasks, students, faculty, and staff. They are also instrumental in helping others achieve growth, satisfaction, and success, with the ultimate objective of improving instruction.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) requires that all individuals who are employed as a director in a state-approved CTE Center must hold a state-issued administrator certificate.

IUP is the approved provider for administrator certification in western Pennsylvania and offers the program you need to become a certified career and technical education administrator.

Vocational Administrative Director Certificate

The IUP Vocational Administrative Director Certificate program is based on standards established by PDE and prepares individuals to assume the role of institutional leader for long-range planning, effectively promoting community involvement, providing
for sound business and financial management, and providing facilities and state-of-the-art equipment. A vocational director creates a climate that allows the management team, faculty, and support staff to function in a self-directed manner and assume
responsibility for their actions.

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

The IUP Vocational Administrative Director certification program is comprised of graduate-level courses that are offered in a blended format with the majority of instruction completed online and utilizing video conferencing. Students will be required
to work closely with a school administrator who has demonstrated a willingness to sponsor the student to complete the field experiences or course assignments in a real life setting. The program includes 500 hours of authentic simulation and field
or internship experiences which are embedded throughout the program. This approach allows students to gain valuable field experience every step of the way, all while learning the related theory. This certification program is designed
to be completed in two years.

Praxis

For Vocational Administrative Director certification, students are required to successfully complete the PRAXIS: School Leadership Licensure Assessment/SLLA. Visit ETS for additional
information.

Program Completion and Certification

The Pennsylvania Department of Education will issue the Vocational Administrative Certificate to students who have a minimum of five years successful teaching in vocational education, have completed the approved program of graduate study, and have presented
evidence of satisfactory achievement on the PRAXIS: School Leadership Licensure Assessment.

Admission

Submit a letter of recommendation from a vocational administrative director indicating a willingness to sponsor the candidate to complete field experiences.

Submit a personal resume that indicates a minimum of three years successful teaching in vocational education.

Upon acceptance by the IUP Center, individuals must also submit the Application for Admission with all accompanying materials to the IUP School of Graduate Studies and Research.
You must be accepted for enrollment by the Graduate School in order to begin the certification program.